N A G I S A S H I O T A
潮田 渚
student no. 11
I wasn't too surprised when Karma asked me to assist him with his research on Iroha, but somehow, following the girl herself was a different matter.
"Nagisa-kun, you also want to figure out what she's really like, right?~" he asked me, most likely having something up his sleeve.
"Of course" I admitted. "But stalking her is kind of...".
"It isn't like we're going to do something terrible, we're only going to follow her" he spoke of it as if it wasn't a big deal.
"But, how will we find her? She has an afterschool make up session with Korosensei" I pointed out.
"No problem!" I heard Ritsu exclaim.
"Ritsu, you're in this too?" I took my phone out to ask, not knowing what face to make.
"I've already tracked her with a GPS! After all, I also programmed myself on her phone, just like what I did with everyone" the girl cheered. "All we have to do is track her after Korosensei's after-school session with her".
"You two are quite prepared aren't you?" I turned to Karma and sweat dropped.
"Of course~" the redhead smirked proudly.
▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬ ▬
Right after Ritsu pinpointed Iroha's location. We headed over, right on time to watch Iroha and Asano walk out of the building.
"You're late" the student council president noted.
"I had to take make-up sessions, don't ask" the girl told him off nonchalantly, seeming irritable.
"Hm, that's a first, since when did you attend those?" the Asano asked.
"Shut it. I've had a bad day" the girl snapped, her personality, changing completely.
'Does she have some kind of switch?,' I thought, surprised by the sudden change of character.
"Fiesty, aren't we?" Karma remarked as we watched from afar.
"I called it" Asano told her, "If you continued with that habit of yours, you'll definitely end up in the E Class. Look where it got you".
"Are you my mother?" she scoffed.
'This was definitely a switch of personality. I knew that she was faking the model student act, but it was as if her personality changed from an angel to a demon.'
"I'm your childhood friend, I'd be hearing the end of it from the principal if I can never sort you out" he sighed.
"First of all, you should be considerate of your childhood friend. Second, the way you refer to your father as principal is just pitiful. Don't tell me I get along your with father more than you do" she taunted, starting to let herself loose considering how far we were from the school grounds. "Lastly, it's my own life, let me live how I want".
"You really are annoying" Asano sighed irritatedly.
"It's my job to piss you off" she smirked triumphantly, loosening her tie before allowing her blazer to casually hang on her bag.
"Iroha" he warned, reminding her of the proper way to wear the uniform.
The girl stuck her tongue out mockingly, "I'm in Class E, remember Asano-kun?".
"I swear, if everyone found out how you really are" he complained.
"Hehe~" Iroha smiled smugly.
'Honestly, she's kinda like Karma-kun, huh?'
"Ah, I give up. Suit yourself" he sighed, before they parted ways.
Iroha casually walked to a nearby store, seemingly being followed by a couple of men.
"Where is she heading now?" I asked Karma.
"Some kind of art supply shop, I think" he noted.
Karma and I waited outside, watching the girl buy a couple cans of spray paint.
"Karma-kun, I think we already found what we've been looking for" I turned to my companion, figuring that there was nothing else to see.
"I guess so," he shrugged as he continued to observe the girl who just exited the shop.
Iroha continued to walk home, coincidentally being approached by a group of men who seemed like delinquents.
"But that girl always attracts the unexpected" Karma pointed out. "Like that".
We continued to follow the girl as she was dragged into an alley, cornered by the three men.
"Don't do anything unless those guys make a move" Karma directed, knowing first hand how these kinds of fights went.
We stealthily walked along to walk closer only to
"So such a beauty like you is from that prestigious school, huh?" They eyed her contentedly, while Iroha looked quite irritable.
"How about you come with us for awhile and we'll assure you that you won't get hurt" another man added.
"No way" she said stubbornly, mischievously spraying paint on the face of the first guy in front of her.
"You bitch" they hissed as the guy in front of her managed to hit her face.
Iroha spat blood, glaring at the guy who just hit her. And here we were watching the girl, put up a front that we never expected to witness.
"I heard about what you did to our comrade, and here I thought I'd let you off, but it seems like you still don't have a tad bit of respect" the delinquent threatened her.
"Karma-kun, don't you think we should save her---" I turned to the person beside me. From the looks of it, this could get bad.
"It might not seem like it. But if that girl isn't used to it, normally she'd have shouted for help by now" he stated calmly, causing me to refrain from taking action.
Karma was right. I think she could get away considering that she knows how to defend herself.
"Like I care" Iroha hissed, pushing the delinquent unto the wall, holding him by the collar before landing a punch herself, and then kicking the man once he was down. "He was the one who picked a fight like you bastards".
I looked at her in awe, as the other two started to come after her as well.
Iroha was actually good at combat. Despite the difference of strength between her and those guys, not only was she fast, but she also managed to dodge most of their attacks, and even managed to knock out some members as they attacked her. But by time she put her guard down, Karma noticed that one of the men had a knife.
And right about when Iroha was about to get stabbed, Karma threw his bag at the guy, before stepping on the guy and picking his bag up casually. "Whoops. My hand slipped~".
"I didn't ask for help" she let go off one of the beaten guys' collar, before turning to Karma.
"I can't possibly leave a damsel in distress alone" the redhead smirked, placing a hand on Iroha's chin to make her look up, "Then again, I can't believe I was absolutely right~".
"Inukai-san, are you alright?" I asked, while Karma turned Iroha's face from left to right, checking out the girl's injured face, before Iroha slapped his hand away.
"You didn't have to get involved".
"Shouldn't you be grateful, Iroha-chan?" Karma teased her, smiling. "I haven't revealed your true personality for one".
"I don't care. Tell them all you want. I'm dropping out of school" she grabbed her bag and purchases before walking away.
'Wait. Did I hear her right?'
"Eh?~ You're quitting school~" Karma asked her with his usual tone.
"Wait, where are you going?" I stopped her, just in case someone else was after her. There so many questions I wanted to ask.
"Home" she answered nonchalantly, Karma way behind us.
"Inukai-san, you aren't serious, right?" I asked her.
"I never really fit in with that class you know" she told me. "And honestly, keeping up that act is so exhausting".
"See ya, Shiota" she waved before walking away.
I walked back to Karma, who continued to watch the girl leave.
"Don't worry about it. As if that teaching-mad octopus would allow her to walk out of this" Karma smirked.
"Karma-kun..."
"Hm?" He queried. "What is it?".
"No, it's nothing" I shook my head and smiled. "I just didn't expect you to be so confident about Iroha-chan coming back".